Holding the tiger tally in his hand, Mu Zian felt a heavy weight in his heart. As the saying goes, to wear the crown, one must bear its weight. From the moment he took the tally, it wasn’t just an opportunity but also a challenge. Those rats hiding in the shadows would surely launch fiercer attacks against him. The dangers he would face in the future would only grow greater. However, for Mu Zian, it was nothing but mere frost and wind.
Throughout the rest of the banquet, Lu Yunxue was absent-minded. It wasn’t until the banquet was nearing its end, with Pei Jianzhi’s reminder, that they remembered one matter yet unresolved—petitioning to waive the Lu family’s debt. Yet now, with Pei Jianzhi’s face lost and her military power stripped away, and with the Emperor absent, replaced only by the Ninth Princess, Lu Yunxue hesitated. However, she quickly realized that if she didn’t seize the opportunity today, there might never be another. Mu Zian now held overwhelming power; any delay could spell disaster for the Lu family. With that thought, Lu Yunxue made her decision.
The two of them stood and respectfully knelt at the center of the grand hall, addressing the Ninth Princess, “Reporting to Your Highness, we have a matter to report and beg Your Highness to deliver us justice.”
The officials put down their wine cups and curiously looked over.
Pei Jianzhi spoke first, “Reporting to Your Highness, the Heroine Marquis spent three years campaigning for the Great Li Empire, while her family was served by the State-Stabilizing Duke. At the time, there was a marriage contract between the two, and thus it was only natural.”
“Yet today, with the State-Stabilizing Duke breaking off the engagement, he demands repayment for the past years’ expenses. Such an action is laughable to the extreme. We plead with Your Highness to waive the debt the State-Stabilizing Duke demands from the Lu family.”
Xiao Xiuning turned to Mu Zian with an amused look, “State-Stabilizing Duke, is this true?”
Mu Zian truly hadn’t expected these two shameless people could stoop this low. He laughed coldly, “Indeed there is such a matter. However, the past years were not subsidies but debts owed by the Lu family.”
“Every expense was recorded, with detailed accounts kept. Over three years, not counting my personal gifts, the Lu family owes a total of 5,800,000 taels of silver!”
The whole hall erupted!
It could have been 5,000 taels, even 50,000 taels—but 5,800,000 taels?
All the civil and military officials gasped. Mu Zian’s deep affection shattered their perception.
Now, everyone looked at Lu Yunxue as if she were a fool.
A man had emptied his fortune, spending 5,800,000 taels on her over three years, and she had betrayed him? Was she kicked in the head by a donkey?
Xiao Xiuning said calmly, “Bring the account book.”
Moments later, a thick ledger was placed in front of Xiao Xiuning.
“Thirty thousand taels for a seven-day banquet for the Lu family grandmother’s birthday; one hundred thousand taels for repairing the mansion…”
The more Xiao Xiuning flipped through it, the more appalled she became. This wasn’t extravagance; it was madness.
Lu Yunxue secretly thought things had taken a bad turn; the tide of opinion had reversed instantly.
Sure enough, Xiao Xiuning frowned and closed the ledger, speaking sternly, “If it were just daily expenses, I could understand. But spending 5,800,000 taels in three years is simply shocking.”
“However, considering your contributions on the battlefield, I shall allow you to repay the debt in installments—three years to settle the 5,800,000 taels. As a show of sincerity, the Heroine Marquis shall repay the first 500,000 taels immediately.”
If there was ever a perfect example of lifting a stone only to drop it on your own foot, Lu Yunxue embodied it now.
Mu Zian looked at Xiao Xiuning; their gazes met in midair.
Truly, there were no simple people in the imperial palace—each one was a master of scheming.
Mu Zian originally intended the Lu family to repay 5,000,000 taels. Yet with just a few words from Xiao Xiuning, the debt grew by 800,000 taels, officially confirmed, inescapable.
Lu Yunxue wanted to protest, but Xiao Xiuning interrupted coldly, “This banquet ends here. I’m tired.”
With that, Xiao Xiuning rose and left.
For Lu Yunxue, tonight was destined to be a sleepless night.
As the banquet ended, the news of what had transpired spread swiftly throughout the capital.
The State-Stabilizing Duke shattered Pei Jianzhi’s general dreams with three punches. Mu Zian regained command of the Vanguard Battalion. The Heroine Marquis was publicly reprimanded by the Ninth Princess.
Any one of these events would have been enough to shock the entire capital.
Inside the Lu residence.
Lu Yunxue returned, dazed and lifeless.
The Lu family’s Grandmother rushed forward and asked eagerly, “Did the Emperor waive the 5,000,000 taels debt?”
Lu Yunxue shook her head.
The Grandmother’s expression darkened instantly, “Then what did you go there for? Aren’t you the Heroine Marquis? How could the Emperor deny you such a small favor?”
“The Emperor did not attend the banquet today,” Pei Jianzhi’s voice sounded.
In the dim light, the Lu family’s Grandmother was startled by Pei Jianzhi’s swollen, pig-headed face.
Lu Yunxue explained the entire situation to her. Find the original chapter at g.com.
When she heard that not only was the debt not waived but had increased to 5,800,000 taels, the Grandmother nearly collapsed.
At that moment, she turned all her fury on Pei Jianzhi.
“You bringer of misfortune! If not for you, the Lu family would be thriving in the capital now! Ever since Xue’er got involved with you, nothing but disaster has followed! You useless fool even dragged her down with you!”
Lu Ming sneered, “Exactly! Without you, the Lu family would already be one of the top families in the capital. The State-Stabilizing Duke would be my brother-in-law, and I’d be basking in glory! Look at you—no money, no power, a complete waste!”
Pei Jianzhi exploded.
He couldn’t deal with Mu Zian, but Lu Ming, half-crippled, was an easy target.
He raised a fist and punched Lu Ming squarely in the face, venting all his humiliation in one blow.
Lu Ming was sent sprawling to the ground, feeling as if his nose had turned into a soy sauce shop, pouring out saltiness, sourness, and spiciness all at once.
The Grandmother screamed.
Lu Yunxue stepped forward to shield Lu Ming and glared angrily at Pei Jianzhi.
“What are you doing?”
Pei Jianzhi’s face was dark, “He insulted me! If I don’t fight back, wouldn’t I disgrace my manhood?”
“He’s my brother!”
Pei Jianzhi snorted coldly, “So what if he’s your brother? Does that mean he can insult me without consequences? That he can do wrong without punishment?”
Looking at Pei Jianzhi’s aggressive stance, Lu Yunxue couldn’t help but recall Mu Zian’s ever-gentle smile.
Had she really made the wrong choice?
The thought crept into her mind like a nightmare and could not be shaken.